SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2005-4

By Bill Engelhardt
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Last Friday evening, September 16, the Mustangs of South Western visited the Warriors of Susquehannock and were scalped 27-19 in a free for all. This game could have gone either way and a play made or a play missed here and there could have made all the difference. The Warriors hung in there and captured their first victory over the Mustangs since 1974.

The Warriors struck first in a big way with a 77-yard touchdown strike from Andy McCoy to Chaz Powell. The Mustangs countered with a long drive that started with Tim Smith returning the kickoff 47-yards to the Warriors 49-yard line. Nine plays later Joe Ault scored on a 6-yard jaunt and tied the score at 6.

The Warriors scored twice in the second quarter, once on a 9-yard run by Cody Baker and again on Zach King’s electrifying 65-yard return of a field goal attempt that was blocked by Zach Powell. Caleb Wells kicked both extra points and the Warriors led 20-6 at the half.

The Mustangs roared back in the third quarter. Drew Snyder recovered a fumble that he forced at the Warriors 31-yard line and six plays later Joe Ault scored on a 1-yard plunge. Snyder kicked the extra point and it was 20-13. Jessie Smith recovered a Warriors fumble at the Warriors 35-yard line and two plays later J. C. Laughlin connected with Snyder for a 62-yard touchdown, with most of the yardage being picked up by Snyder after the catch. The extra point attempt bounced off the right goal post and the score remained in favor of the Warriors 20-19. The Mustangs regained possession on their own 5-yard line. Laughlin completed a 13-yard pass to Snyder at the 18-yard line and Chaz Powell returned an interception 35-yards for the final score on the next play with 1:39 left in the game.

The Mustangs performed well on special teams as Tim Smith with 1 for 47-yards, Robert Barnett with 1 for 44-yards, Aaron Repman with 1 for 39-yards and Jason Gigous with 1 for 36-yards accounted for 4 kickoff returns for 143-yards and Gigous returned 3 punts for 23-yards. Drew Snyder kicked an extra point, punted 5 times for 224-yards, for a 44.8-yard average, and kicked off 4 times for 231-yards, including 2 touchbacks.

Joe Ault, Mark Bittinger, Seth Bolte, Matt Bosley, Jason Gigous, Chad La Gore, Jeremy Renoll, Aaron Repman, Clint Shaffer, Dustin Shaw, Cody Shue, Jesse Smith, Jason Sneeringer, Drew Snyder, Mike Stremmel, Eric Updegrove, Chris Wilson and Ben Yelton manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Justin Barnes, Robert Barnett, Matt Ferguson, Adam Hartman, Curtis Maphis, Cody Smith, Tim Smith and Max Wagaman patrolled the secondary.

The Mustangs gained 116-yards rushing and 148-yards passing for a total of 264 yards of offense. J. C. Laughlin completed 9 of 20 passes for the 148-yards. Drew Snyder caught 3 passes for 96-yards and a touchdown, Tim Smith caught 2 for 17-yards, Jason Gigous caught 2 for 17, Jesse Smith caught 1 for 15 and Robert Barnett caught 1 for 3-yards. Joe Ault led the rushing attack with 17 carries for 62-yards and 2 touchdowns, followed by Cody Smith with 7 for 35, Robert Barnett with 5 for 19, Jason Gigous with 3 for 6, Tim Smith with 3 for 2 and J. C. Laughlin with 4 for minus 8-yards.

The Susquehannock Warriors rang up 145-yards rushing and 201 yards passing for a total of 346 yards gained. Andy McCoy completed 7 of 21 passes for the 201-yards and a touchdown. Justin Markel led the rushing attack with 11 carries for 60-yards, followed by Chaz Powell with 10 for 55, Joe Mummert with 10 for 17, Cody Baker with 4 for 14-yards and a touchdown and McCoy with 1 for minus a yard. Powell caught 3 passes for 122-yards and a touchdown, followed by Ian Childers with 3 for 57-yards and Mummert with 1 for 22-yards.

The South Western Mustang Marching Band and the 22-member Mustang Cheer Leading squad were both very impressive crowd pleasers. The 7-time Cavalcade of Bands Champion, a 2000 Tournament of Bands Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion Mustang Marching Band provided the halftime entertainment with the 2005 musical program entitled “Festive Overtures: A Holiday Collage,” which featured the majestic fanfare of Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture,” Russian Sailors’ Dance from the ballet, “Red Poppy,” “Russian Easter” and “Russian Christmas.” The Warriors Marching Band also entertained the pre-game crowd with a rousing performance.

The Mustangs of South Western are 0-3-0 overall and 0-0-0 in York Area Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 150-59-1 (.718) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 291-177-8. The results of the 476 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .622 winning percentage and a .628 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs host the Panthers of Central York as they begin league competition. Central York has won its three games to date and is coming off of a 40-7 victory over Cedar Crest. From here it looks like the Mustangs have come to life and are due to get back on the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.